Ukraine and Saudi Arabia completed the preparation of an intergovernmental agreement in the field of defense

President Petro Poroshenko stressed the importance of agreements between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia in the defense and security sector.

“We completed the discussion and are ready to sign an agreement between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia on cooperation in the field of defense,” Petro Poroshenko told journalists following the first part of his visit to the Gulf countries.

The President informed that two large contracts in the field of military-technical cooperation were being implemented at the moment.

“Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are fully satisfied with the implementation of the contract. We are showing great progress in the field of aircraft construction,” Petro Poroshenko emphasizes informing that the Ukrainian plane An-132D is already in Saudi Arabia and currently, the issue of its serial production is being elaborated.

He noted that the issue of expanding the line of Antonov aircrafts for the needs of that Arab country and in the future for other countries of the region was also discussed.

Also, commenting on the results of his official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Petro Poroshenko said that "the conversation with the King of Saudi Arabia lasted twice as long as the scheduled time" and concerned a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation and coordination in the international arena.

The Head of State thanked Saudi Arabia for its unwavering and solid support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also reminded that Saudi Arabia had supported Ukraine in March 2014, condemning the illegal annexation of Crimea. It also supported our country in the protection of human rights in the occupied Crimea, particularly in the protection of Crimean Tatars.